Fleetwood chairman Andy Pilley fears famous clubs will go out of existence if football doesn't stand up to coronavirus

Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley fears that clubs in League One and Two will be forced out of existence if football does not come together to counter the impact of coronavirus on the game.
Andy Pilley says Fleetwood Town are not under threat but many clubs areAndy Pilley says Fleetwood Town are not under threat but many clubs are
Andy Pilley says Fleetwood Town are not under threat but many clubs are
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The Highbury supremo stressed that his club is not among those under threat, though he may be forced into significant cost-cutting measures.

Pilley made his plea to safeguard the health and integrity of the game in the first of a series of nightly videos he is posting on his Twitter account.

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The Fleetwood Town owner said: "Welcome to my video on the current state of English Football League One and League Two clubs.

"The purpose of the video is to explain the effect of the Covid-19 crisis on our football clubs and how ultimately it may threaten the very existence of our football clubs if sufficient action is not taken.

"I think a better understanding of this situation is required so the whole of football can work together to find a collective way through this incredibly challenging time.

"It's important people understand the purpose of this video is not just about the self-preservation of Fleetwood Town.

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"My football club will be OK. I may have to cost-cut significantly but I will find a way to navigate through these times and Fleetwood Town Football Club will continue to exist.

"My concern and my big worry is that we may have double figures of football clubs that go to the wall, famous football clubs that will no longer exist and no longer deliver the quality of life and the pride to their community that they have for perhaps 100 years or more.

"The very integrity of the competition that we love is at stake here and we don't want to be watching football where it's about football clubs' points being expunged and points per game and seasons being null and void.

"We want a healthy Football League with sustainable football clubs for the future. That is what I passionately believe in."

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In the remaining videos, Pilley says he will discuss the fly-on-the-wall TV documentary shot at his club over the past 18 months, the impact of coronavirus on his other businesses and impending changes at Fleetwood Town.

On the latter he said: "I'm also going to talk about the way we are going to run the football club in the future. It's going to be very, very different. We are going to make lots of changes."